What is an Accredited Staging Professional?

You hear stories all the time - people go to “professionals” for a service and then find out too late that the “professional” is anything but. How do you know who to trust?

When considering home staging, look for someone who is an Accredited Staging ® Professional® – these are professionals who have studied and learned the proven and powerful techniques of Staging® homes with two primary goals: Sell faster and for a higher price.

Those who have accreditation have:

• ·        Successfully attended and graduated from the ASP® course 

Passed a detailed written examination in the ASP course on preparing homes for sale

Accredited Staging Professionals understand and are committed to the principals and practices of marketing properties as Staged Homes. By their membership and participation in the International Home Staging Association, IAHSP® ASPs®,  these professionals are held to professional ethical standards as they follow the IAHSP® Home Staging Code of Ethics.

Along with the training and examinations, Accredited Staging® Professionals® have a deep understanding of visual and organizational presentation. They can spot what looks out of place or what needs to be updated with the emotional distance needed when looking at what has been your home. That child’s piece of art that you’ve always loved (and still do?) let’s put it away until you move into your next home. That 1970’s green shag rug? It’s time to get rid of it, better to replace with with an more updated look.

Just as you would for anyone coming into your house, when considering having someone stage your home in preparation for its sale, make sure that person has the credentials and expertise needed to get the job done. 

Visit our website at kfcormierstagedhomes.com for more details.

You Can’t Sell Your House the Way You Live in it!

When you finally make the decision to move out of your house, you naturally want prospective buyers to appreciate all the wonderful memories you and your family have created in your home.

The wall where you measured each of the kids’ heights? Priceless.

Pictures from the kids’ art classes displayed on your fridge and framed in the den? Charming.

An exercise corner with your bike and tread master? Absolutely necessary.

To you, it all makes sense, but to others, your memories may not. What if a buyer doesn’t have children or has children who have all moved out? What you need to do is recognize that you absolutely can’t sell your house the way you lived in it. Your memories are yours. They are not going to be those of whoever buys your home. Instead you need to create a blank canvas onto which prospective buyers can project their very own lifestyle and needs.

This is where a professional Stager comes in handy. They have the trained eye to look at your house and can, using their professional distance, advise you on ways to not limit a buyer’s interest.

Maybe it’s a new coat of paint over that kids’ measuring wall (be sure to take a photo first.)

Or maybe it’s taking away as many reminders of kids in general as possible.

On the other hand, the professional stager also knows how to create possibility. That exercise corner in the second bedroom? If you replace the equipment with a beautiful bassinet, you’ve now planted the idea of your house being just perfect for a young couple.

It is the professional Stager’s job to make your house outshine the competition in as many ways as possible.  She will help you prepare your house by having it cleaned, de-cluttered, and most importantly of all, de-personalized. It is only when you present your home’s  maximum potential to the general public that you will succeed in finding the perfect buyer who will then begin making their own memories.

Visit our website at KFCormierStagedHomes.com for more details

5 Considerations to Juggle When Pricing a Home –

Oftentimes coming up with a home’s price can feel subjective.  It can seem a bit of a juggling act as you measure one factor against another in order to come up with a competitive price that will benefit the Seller but will also quickly move the property. When deciding on a price, keep the following factors in mind:

Location – It’s the old saying in real estate, isn’t it? “Location! Location! Location!” The reason it’s an old saying, though, is because it’s true. Houses in great locations will go for more money than those that are not. While you can’t move your house, its pricing must accurately reflect the potential of its location. 

Condition – Upkeep and good condition are crucial factors in getting the highest value for a home. How someone has lived in and maintained a house will be apparent to a potential Buyer.  Fix what you can beforehand and price the property based on its overall condition and upkeep.

Terms – The more terms that are available on a property the more potential buyers you will reach.  Pricing must reflect the kinds of term available for purchase.

Market – Interest rates, competition, and the economy all make up the state of the market. Any house’s price must reflect these economic conditions.

Staging – Let’s face it, homes that are staged for sale (de-cluttered, de-personalized, and updated) are going to be priced higher than those that are not. If the home is not already staged, consider having it done before the property even hits the market.

In the end, a property is really only worth what another person is willing to pay for it. However, by considering all of these factors during the pricing process, you will have a better, more informed opportunity to price the property competitively so that it moves it quickly off the market.